From: Jay Willingham (jaywillingham@cfl.rr.com)
Date: Tue Jul 08 2003 - 22:41:49 EDT
Re: Predetermination: God's controlling will?Agreed. God does not willingly bring sufferring to the sons of men.
Not a sparrow falls without God's notice.
Even the hairs of Josh's head were numbered.
So, too, God knows Josh's fiance' and his Spirit pleads for her before the Father.
Satan sometimes asks to sift us like wheat.
Somehow, God weaves even Satan's worst into good for those who love God.
Sometimes all we can do is hold on, hoping for that day when God will wipe away all our tears and all sorrow, pain and fear will have passed away.
Then we will all see things as they truly are. And the deaths of children and so many will have eternal meaning.
Twixt now and then we must cling to thos things that will not pass away: faith, hope, and the greatest of these, love.
Jay Willingham
----- Original Message -----
From: Howard J. Van Till
To: Jay Willingham ; asa
Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2003 3:52 PM
Subject: Re: Predetermination: God's controlling will?
From: "Jay Willingham" <jaywillingham@cfl.rr.com>
> God allows things bad things to happen and allows Satan and his minions
> latitude to afflict man.
>
> We grieve, comfort the grieving and press on trusting that all things work
> for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to his purposes.
>
Jay,
You have re-stated things in a way that I can be more comfortable with. What I cannot understand is the inclination of many Christians to say things like, "I lost him, but it's the Lord's will." I do not for one moment believe that God willed Josh Speer to die and leave behind a grieving fiancee.
Howard Van Till
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